Once we get really close to the 50, I'm pretty much not going to punt it. I'm just going to tell you ... we're going to go for it.'' -- Bill O'Brien

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien, shown here with Virginia coach Mike London, isn't bashful about keeping his offense on the field on fourth down. Expect to see a lot more of it as the season progresses. JOE HERMITT/The Patriot-News

There once was a guy who coached at Penn State who believed in defense, his kicking game and a conservative offensive approach.

Gamble on offense? Not really his thing. Gamble on fourth-and-1 from your own 45, on the road, on the first possession of the game? Not a chance.

Well, Bill O'Brien is not Joe Paterno. And this Penn State head coach believes his offensive play-call on fourth down, when properly executed, will always trump what the opposing defensive coaches have dialed up.

I wouldn't start calling him Riverboat Bill O'Brien just yet, because I don't know that O'Brien considers himself a gambler. I think he is just a confident guy trying to create as many scoring opportunities for his depleted offense (SEE Silas Redd, Justin Brown) as he can.

And I know this: If you see Penn State's offense in a fourth-down situation anywhere near the 50 on Saturday against Navy, O'Brien is keeping his offense on the field.

Through two games, Penn State has converted 5 of 7 fourth-down opportunities. In the Virginia game, PSU's offense converted a pair of fourth-and-one's on its first possession -- one from the Lions' 45 and the other from the Cavaliers' 45 -- as the Lions marched 75 yards in 17 plays to take a 7-0 lead.

Last year, the Lions went for it on fourth down just 18 times (converting 10).

"Uh, you know, when you go for it on fourth down, you can't just, all of a sudden, go for it,'' O'Brien said.

"So your third-down call is more of a second-down call because you're trying to get half the distance to the first down so it's a manageable fourth down. I don't think many coaches have said that in a long time.

"You're also looking at the field position, so once we get really close to the 50, I'm pretty much not going to punt it. I'm just going to tell you that, like, we're going to go for it. Unless it's fourth and forever.''

O'Brien continues to put his personal stamp on the Penn State football program. Long hair and beards are allowed. Loud music is pumped in during practice sessions. There are last names on the backs of Penn State's jerseys.

And opposing defenses have to be ready for O'Brien's aggressive fourth-down approach. The fact that PSU's punting and placekicking have been serious problems in the early going has likely emboldened the head coach.